Privatised ABC would change diversity:boss

A sold-off ABC would be unlikely to broadcast the variety of current affairs, drama and children shows it does now, managing director Mark Scott says.

The Victorian Liberal Party recently launched a campaign to sell the ABC and SBS but dropped the motion to debate the privatisation of the public broadcasters at its state conference last weekend.

Mr Scott told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday a privatised ABC would affect the diversity and investment in the content available on Australian television screens.

"It would be highly unlikely a privatised ABC would be able to make the kind of investment in high quality news and current affairs, high in drama and children's content, and providing services to regional and rural areas," he said.

He said he had identified no public sentiment to sell the ABC to the private sector since assuming the to role in 2006.

Surveys have shown nearly 90 per cent of the Australian public believed the broadcaster was valuable, Mr Scott said.

Public broadcasters with advertising became different, as they no longer provided content for audiences but rather to attract advertisers, Mr Scott said.